Housing

Aug 18. 2023 Housing Moving to Japan? Here's How to Make Your Move as Smooth as Possible Finally committing to making the move to Japan is an exciting, wonderful moment. But once you're officially set to come here, how do you start to prepare? Picking up your whole life and moving to a new country is a challenge no matter where you move to, and if you're coming from across the world to move to Japan, it can be hard to truly understand...
Jul 07. 2023 Housing Apartment Administrative Fees in Japan: What are They? If you're looking into moving to Japan and renting an apartment, or already living in Japan and thinking of moving, you might already have heard that it is expensive up-front to rent an apartment in Japan. But what might catch you off-guard are extra monthly fees on top of your rent that may be baked into your rental contract. These Administrative...
May 19. 2023 Housing Gas Heating or Induction Heating: Which is the Better Choice in Japan? If you're looking to rent or buy an apartment or home in Japan, or thinking about renovating your current kitchen, you'll need to decide what kind of stove is best for you. In Japan, induction heating (IH) and gas stoves are the most common, but which one is best for you? Let's take a look at both types of stoves so that you know what to expect wh...
Aug 24. 2020 Housing Is My Rent Negotiable? Speaking frankly, for the most part it is impossible to negotiate a reduction in rent in Tokyo. Due to rapid population growth, it is becoming difficult to find apartments for rent. Last year, Tokyo's population increased by 65,000. In other words, there are extremely few vacant rooms. Especially in very popular areas such as Ebisu, Nakameguro, Sh...
Aug 17. 2020 Housing Earthquake Resistant Buildings：Comparing Old and New Earthquake Resistance Standards One of the common questions we are asked is, "What kind of earthquake resistance does this building have?" High-rise buildings are designed with the latest in seismic base isolation systems, including equipment designed to protect the building from earthquakes. However, it is rare for a typical 10 story apartment building to be equipped with such ...
Jun 01. 2020 Housing Of all the questions I get from clients, far and away the most common is that of 礼金, or 'key money.' "What?! You're telling me I have to pay the landlord extra money just so he lets me rent the apartment?!" I try to explain things simply, but I'm met with a furrowed brow and cloudy puzzled expression. I elaborate, going into the concept in detail, hoping to restore the client's good mood. In the end, I close with "When in Rome, Do as the Romans Do...

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